Au nanoparticles decorated flower-like SnS2/Ti3C2 MXene microcomposite for high performance NO2 sensing at room temperature

• Published in: Applied surface science 2023-11, Vol.637, p.157957, Article 157957
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wenlei, Wang, Weiheng, Wang, Yunfan, Sun, Lei, Sun, Yongjiao, Hu, Jie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AuNPs decoration; NO2 detection; Room temperature; SnS2; Ti3C2 MXene
• ISSN: 0169-4332
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.157957

[Display omitted] •SnS2/Ti3C2 MXene microcomposite was decorated by AuNPs for NO2 sensing at RT.•A 5 times of improvement to 1 ppm NO2 was achieved by 6 wt% of AuNPs decoration.•The limit of detection dropped from 500 ppb to 5 ppb owing to AuNPs decoration.•The material had good selectivity, stability and potential flexible application.•Sensing mechanism was explained by the involving of DFT calculations. The continuous discharging of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) significantly damaged global environment and human health. In this study, SnS2 microflowers/Ti3C2 MXene heterostructure was modified by Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the detection of NO2 at room temperature. The microcomposite decorated with 6 wt% AuNPs exhibited excellent sensing properties including response value of 5.34 to 1 ppm NO2, which was almost 5 times higher than that of undecorated one. The limit of detection lowered from 500 ppb to 5 ppb with the addition of AuNPs. Besides, the AuNPs decorated SnS2/MXene microcomposite revealed good selectivity, fatigue resistance, as well as potential application towards flexible sensing. The NO2 gas sensing mechanism of AuNPs decorated with SnS2/Ti3C2 MXene microcomposite was discussed through density functional theory calculation on adsorption behavior and transferred charges in detail. This work may provide an important pathway for the future development of NO2 sensors at room temperature.